TNT continued its mastery of Rain or Shine, while San Miguel bounced back strong against Barangay Ginebra as the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals series took a different twist on Friday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Tropang 5G rode the hot hands of Calvin Oftana to emerge victorious in a tightly-fought Game 2 that was decided in overtime, 113-105.
Oftana dropped 39 big points against the Elasto Painters to steer TNT to a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven duel.
READ: Oftana scores 39 as TNT frustrates Rain or Shine yet again in OT
The Beermen meanwhile, leveled their own semis series against the Kings, scoring a runaway 100-83 win despite big man June Mar Fajardo hobbled with a calf injury.
Marcio Lassiter had 16 points to lead San Miguel, which also drew double digit scoring from five other players.
Here are the takeaways in the weekend doubleheader.
1.ROS ADDRESS REBOUNDING WOES, BUT MISSED FTs BIT THEM HARD
The Elasto Painters managed to outrebound the bigger Tropang 5G, 57-53, after being clobbered off the boards in the Game 1 loss. Unfortunately, they didn’t do well from the foul line where they went 20-of-34 for 58 percent.
In contrast, TNT was 19-of-21 from the same area for a high 90 percent. Curiously, Rain or Shine outplayed TNT in the paint, 46-28, but the Tropang 5G made up for it by outscoring the Elasto Painters in the perimeter, 66-39.
2.TNT SHOCK TROOPERS DELIVER
With RR Pogoy out with a hamstring injury and Jordan Heading still nursing a back spasm that won’t go away, the Tropang 5G went deep to their bench and found plenty of help.
Kim Aurin, Mike Nieto, Almond Vosotros, and Simon Enciso accounted for 23 points combined including 5 of the 14 three pointers by TNT as they provided ample support to Oftana, Heading, Pogoy, Kelly Williams, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, and Poy Erram.
3.MO TAUTUAA HOLDS SMB FORT WITH JMF INJURED
The Fil-Tongan big man rose to the challenge with June Mar Fajardo nursing a hurting calf.
Suddenly in the starting unit, the 6-foot-8Tautuaa quietly filled in the needs of San Miguel inside by coming through with a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Even with Fajardo playing sparingly, the Beermen still found a way to dominate inside by outscoring the Kings in the middle, 48-22, and won the battle of the boards, 49-38.
4. JAPETH SILENCED
After standing tall for Barangay Ginebra in its 73-71 win in the series opener, the veteran big man was only good for five points (2-of-5), five rebounds, and six assists in Game 2. He also had a team-high 5 turnovers out of the Kings’ total of 13.
The numbers were a far cry from his statsline of 18 points (6-of-13), nine rebounds, and two assists in Game 1 despite playing in foul trouble. Obviously, the Kings failed to take advantage of the limited playing minutes given to the injured Fajardo, who had two points, seven rebounds, and two assists in 17 minutes of play.
5.BEERMEN FLAUNT THEIR MANY WEAPONS
Proof they aren't just, according to the bashers, ‘Asa kay June Mar,’ the Beermen flexed their entire arsenal and burned the Kings to the ground in Game 2.
Don Trollano and surprise package Kris Rosales complimented Lassiter on the scoring end with 14 and 13 points, respectively, in an effort that likewise unburdened CJ Perez from scoring loads for the perennial All-Filipino champions. Perez settled for 11 points on 5-of-12 shooting.
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